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Bears troubles tied to draft history
Bears troubles tied to draft history
bob legere
It’s too bad the Bears’ offense is such a disaster because the defense is playing well enough to lead an average offense to the playoffs.
Come to think of it, if the Bears strived for average on offense they’d be better off. Then, coordinator Mike Martz wouldn’t be force-feeding a steady diet of passing plays down the throat of an offensive line that can’t pass protect against most NFL defenses.
But that’s what happens when you ignore the offensive line in the draft for eight years. That group represents nearly one-fifth of a team’s starting lineup, but Bears general manager Jerry Angelo seems to believe that talent isn’t as necessary on the offensive line as it is at the other positions.
“It’s not about getting great players, it’s about getting the same five players playing well together,” Angelo said on the WBBM 780-AM pregame show Sunday. “When you lose a player, or players in our case, it makes it tough on the other guys because one player affects the other four.”
Angelo makes a valid point that the Bears’ offensive line has been hindered by injuries, which affects the cohesion needed for offensive line play.
After starting the first two games at left tackle, Chris Williams missed almost four full games with a hamstring injury and then was re-inserted at left guard, taking over for Roberto Garza, who missed the last two games following arthroscopic knee surgery. A knee injury knocked Lance Louis out of the lineup after four starts.
Williams’ injury led to Frank Omiyale’s move from right tackle to left, with veteran backup Kevin Shaffer taking over for two games at right tackle. But coaches decided seventh-round rookie J’Marcus Webb was a better alternative. Louis’ injury ushered Edwin Williams into the starting lineup.
But the bigger problem, and the one that no one at Halas Hall wants to acknowledge, is that none of the players who has been shuffled in and out and back and forth is a difference maker.
There’s a reason Webb lasted until the seventh round this year, Louis lasted until the seventh round last year and Edwin Williams was available as a street free agent after being cut by Washington: No one else thought they were very good.
The Bears have been forced to replace mediocre-to-average players with other mediocre-to-average players on the line because they have ignored the foundation for eight years.
Chris Williams is the only offensive lineman the Bears have drafted in the first round in eight years, and now the coaching staff doesn’t believe he’s the team’s best left tackle anymore. Williams is the only offensive lineman the Bears have taken in the first three rounds of the last eight drafts. They used a fourth-rounder to take Josh Beekman in 2007, but he was cut Sept. 4, and they took Tyler Reed in the sixth round in 2006.
So, with a total of 68 draft picks since 2003, the Bears have selected just nine offensive linemen, and six of them were taken in the seventh and final round. That’s why they can’t protect the quarterback.
You’d think Martz would have realized that by now.
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Bears have drafted in the first round in eight years, and now the coaching staff doesn’t believe he’s the team’s best left tackle anymore. Williams is the only offensive lineman the Bears have taken in the first three rounds of the last eight drafts. They used a fourth-rounder to take Josh Beekman in 2007, but he was cut Sept. 4, and they took Tyler Reed in the sixth round in 2006.
So, with a total of 68 draft picks since 2003, the Bears have selected just nine offensive linemen, and six of them were taken in the seventh and final round. That’s why they can’t protect the quarterback.
whole article in a nutshell; also mentions injury are a part of it too; but points out that everyone on the line, starter or replacement is average to mediocre.
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High Fives / Like - 0 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
Riczaj01 
Bears have drafted in the first round in eight years, and now the coaching staff doesn’t believe he’s the team’s best left tackle anymore. Williams is the only offensive lineman the Bears have taken in the first three rounds of the last eight drafts. They used a fourth-rounder to take Josh Beekman in 2007, but he was cut Sept. 4, and they took Tyler Reed in the sixth round in 2006.
So, with a total of 68 draft picks since 2003, the Bears have selected just nine offensive linemen, and six of them were taken in the seventh and final round. That’s why they can’t protect the quarterback.
whole article in a nutshell; also mentions injury are a part of it too; but points out that everyone on the line, starter or replacement is average to mediocre.
took columbo in first in 2002 its 2 in 8 years -which is very normal for any team that neesd to spread out the picks
last 8 years-
2 "O" lineman- columbo and Williams'
2 "D' lineman- tommie harris and micheal haynes
1 Qb- rex grossman
1 RB- cedric benson
1 TE- greg Olsen
2006- trade down, 2009,2010 for cutler
Agree, we should ahve use more middle picks for 0lineman, no argument from me there, but disagree about the #1 picks, esp when paid $30 mill for tait, grabbed r brown miller and Garza that also should be using top picks on olineman.. Do not think fair to not include we had used free agency for olineman in 2003-2007 for WHY no top picks
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 took columbo in first in 2002 its 2 in 8 years -which is very normal for any team that neesd to spread out the picks
last 8 years-
2 "O" lineman- columbo and Williams'
2 "D' lineman- tommie harris and micheal haynes
1 Qb- rex grossman
1 RB- cedric benson
1 TE- greg Olsen
2006- trade down, 2009,2010 for cutler
Agree, we should ahve use more middle picks for 0lineman, no argument from me there, but disagree about the #1 picks, esp when paid $30 mill for tait, grabbed r brown miller and Garza that also should be using top picks on olineman.. Do not think fair to not include we had used free agency for olineman in 2003-2007 for WHY no top picks
You can try and sugarcoat all you want, but the truth is the o-line started showing signs of deterioration in 2007 and the o-line was for the most part ignored in the draft since 2007. I don't consider late round picks addressing the problem. A good GM is going to know that young o-lineman are going to be needed to be groomed with the age of Tait, R Brown and Fred Miller.
Last edited by GeorgiaJeff; 10-28-2010 at 08:05 AM.
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Originally Posted by
GeorgiaJeff You can try and sugarcoat all you want, but the truth is the o-line started showing signs of deterioration in 2007 and o-line was for the most part ignored in the draft since 2007. I don't consider late round picks addressing the problem. A good GM is going to know that young o-lineman are going to be needed to be groomed with the age of Tait, R Brown and Fred Miller.
not sugar coating a damm thing jeff- just giving the FACTS( ok if giving the facts sugar-coating guess guilty)
and when posted "agreed, we should have use more middle picks for 0lineman, no argument from me there"- Not only wasn't I sugarcoating anything, ironcally saying the same as you,just simply Pointing out WHY when you use F/A you also don't use top picks on those years : )
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 not sugar coating a damm thing jeff- just giving the FACTS( ok if giving the facts sugar-coating guess guilty)
and when posted "agreed, we should have use more middle picks for 0lineman, no argument from me there"- Not only wasn't I sugarcoating anything, ironcally saying the same as you,just simply Pointing out WHY when you use F/A you also don't use top picks on those years : )
Contrary to what you may think by my recent posts I'm not negative about the Bears chances going forward. I can see them winning five games in a row or at least four of five. The key, again, is the o-line. They also need to play mistake free football and not turn the ball over.
About JA and the o-line, I was just saying that once R. Brown and Fred Miller were done (Tait wasn't the same either), the o-line should have been more of a priority and deserved upper round picks (at least 2nd or 3rd round). I won't split hairs over upper or middle rounds, but I see other teams get pretty good o-linemen in the upper (1-3) rounds. I've read the statistics about how many o-linemen are mid to late round picks, but that doesn't mean elite tackles and guards aren't also drafted in the upper rounds. With the state of our o-line we need at least two of our first three picks in 2011 to be o-linemen. With Cutler at QB I don't want Omiyale at LT, but rather a premier LT to protect Cutler's blindside.
Last edited by GeorgiaJeff; 10-28-2010 at 08:21 AM.
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It should have been obvious that the Bears were clueless when they drafted Cedric Benson. It was bad then, and it has been mostly disappointment ever since. The Bears did NOT need a RB, and it is highlighted by the fact that in drafting Benson, they passed up players like Aaron Rodgers, Login Mankins, DeMarcus Ware, or even Antrel(sp?) Rolle...!!!
There is really no pattern to the Bears drafting logic. They obviously do not select for need, and, they sure as hell do not take the best player available. It is bad, just flat out bad...
3nagurski
"...Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue...."
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even more chilling is JA has busted on everyone of his first rounders. We got some out of Harris but now he is in the prime of his career and bench duties. Greg Olsen is lost on this team and was peddled in the offseason. That is clear to me we have a drafting problem without going deeper into things.
How can an owner keep someone like that when they see in every year they are investing in a bust?
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There’s a reason Webb lasted until the seventh round this year, Louis lasted until the seventh round last year and Edwin Williams was available as a street free agent after being cut by Washington:
No one else thought they were very good. Welcome to the Chicago BEARS ~ the NFL's Retirement Home for everyone else's "Has-Been's" and "Reject's".
BTW Jeff.....just courious ~ are we looking at the same schedule? ..... I'm just wondering which "five games in a row" it is that you can see us winning?
.......I can see them winning five games in a row or at least four of five.
I'm not thinking that they can't win, maybe, 5 more games ...... but 5 games in a row???
Which 5 games in a row (out of the 9 left to play) would those be? (Bills, Vikings, Dolphins, Eagles, Lions, Patriots, Vikings, Jets, Packers)
I don't think even DB believes that! LOL!!!
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Originally Posted by
3nagurski It should have been obvious that the Bears were clueless when they drafted Cedric Benson. 3nagurski
Benson was a great pick 4th overall that year. The "clueless" part was when they cut him and got nothing in return.
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